Central Coast’s shark reputation

With news of today’s fatal shark attack in Lompoc, the Central Coast is sure to get a reputation as being a deadly shark zone, considering the fact that three of the last five shark fatalities from the Pacific Ocean have occured in a 50-mile stretch between Avila Beach and Lompoc.

According to our story, a 38-year-old surfer was killed at Surf Beach around noon in circumstances oddly similar to a fatal shark attack at that same beach just two years ago — almost to the day: October 22, 2010.

In 2003, Deborah Franzman was killed while swiming in Avila Beach.

This is the 13th shark fatality recorded along the Pacific coast in North America since 1952. Of those, three have been surfers.